NEW YORK — Federal marshals took possession of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's $7 million Manhattan penthouse yesterday in a move that forced his wife to move elsewhere.

Proceeds from a sale of the property and its contents could be used to help reimburse those who lost billions of dollars investing with Madoff before he confessed to running a Ponzi scheme.

U.S. Marshal Joseph Guccione said the marshals arrived at the property at noon with a court order permitting them to take custody of the apartment and to make anyone living there move out.

J&J, ELAN UNITE ON ALZHEIMER'S WORK

TRENTON, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson, making a big jump into the risky but potentially lucrative field of Alzheimer's disease, is taking a major stake in Irish biopharmaceutical company Elan Corp., investing up to $1.5 billion initially.

The two will cooperate to complete research on two injected drugs to stop progression of the mind-robbing disease and on a vaccine to prevent the buildup of plaque in the brain that causes increasing memory loss, confusion, wandering and aggression.

The agreement could reinvigorate ailing Elan and save the jobs of top executives who face shareholders at their July 17 annual meeting.

It also would make J&J a major player in one of the biggest areas of unmet medical need.

BOEING DELIVERS ANOTHER 125 JETS

WASHINGTON — Boeing Co. delivered 125 commercial jets in the second quarter, one less than the same period in 2008.

The aerospace manufacturer said for the three month-period it delivered 99 of its 737s — the company's best-selling jet — and 21 777s. In the same period last year, Boeing delivered 100 737s and 18 777s.

Other deliveries included two 747s and three 767s, according to figures posted yesterday on Boeing's Web site. To date this year, Boeing has delivered 246 planes, up from the 241 planes in the same period of 2008.

Boeing has struggled with slumping orders for its jets as the recessions dampens demand for air travel and cargo services.

FACTORY ORDERS ROSE 1.2 PERCENT IN MAY

WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories jumped in May by the largest amount in nearly a year, another sign that the nosedive in manufacturing is nearing an end.

The Commerce Department said yesterday that total orders rose 1.2 percent in May, better than the 0.8 percent increase that economists had expected. The April performance was revised slightly lower to a gain of 0.5 percent, from 0.7 percent.

The May increase was the best showing since a 2.1 percent rise last June.